Continuous heat sink for an electronic device

ABSTRACT

A continuous heat sink adapted to an electronic device comprises a prefabricated slat folded into a plurality of perforated sections to define segregated spaces for ventilation and adhered by glue or fasteners to a base plate with a skirt folded at a right angle to each section; the base plate then is placed on the top of the electronic device for the heat to be conducted to the heat sink for dissipation, further improved by the holes that promote the lateral airflow.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a continuous heat sink for an electronic device, and more particularly, to one that has a prefabricated slat folded to create a plurality of segregated spaces wherein the air is free to flow for improving production benefits.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Most of electronic devices and assemblies create thermal energy during operation. Taking the chip used in CPU for example, it becomes more compact and operates at higher speed to significantly reduce the operation time and improve user efficiency thanks to the advanced development of high technology. However, as the operation speed increases, its clock creates more thermal energy, in turn, higher temperature rise to render the computer instable, and failure to affect its normal function of operation. Therefore, a heat sink that is capable of faster dissipating the heat is required to maintain better operation efficiency of the CPU chip.

[0005] In the prior art, forced heat dissipation is used, i.e., a heat sink block incorporated with a fan as illustrated in FIG. 10. Wherein, a heat sink block (B) made of aluminum, known for its light-weight and excellent heat conductivity, is formed with a plurality of fins (B1) separating from one another with a slot defined any two abutted fins (B1) to allow ventilation. A mini fan (C) is disposed over those fins (B1). In use, the block (B) is fixed to the top surface of a chip by means of fasteners. Alternatively, a heat dissipating glue is used to stick the block (B) to the chip (A) for improving the cooling efficiency. The bottom of the block (B) attached to the chip (A) conducts the heat from the chip (A) to the fins (B1) above that contact the air for the heat to escape into the atmosphere. Furthermore, the fan is used as the source of forced heat dissipation for fast cooling.

[0006] To facilitate the manufacturing process, the heat dissipation block of the prior art usually comprises extruded aluminum with segregated spaces defined by walls and the walls are cut by pressurized water jet. Whereas it is necessary for the heat sink to provide more area to contact the air for a better heat dissipation effect, more air passages are required. As a result, the subsequent cutting process after the extrusion not only produces excessive waste materials but also much longer time is consumed. Furthermore, as the electronic device, such as a chip used in a CPU, is usually provided with a limited area. In turn, the walls of the heat sink has to get thinner by compromising the increasing wall and air passage, making the walls vulnerable to be damaged in the course of the cutting process, thus higher percentage of defective. That means higher production cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a continuous structure for a heat sink adapted to an electronic device composed of a body and a base plate for improved cost efficiency and heat dissipation result. To achieve the purpose, a prefabricated slat in a proper length is used to make the body of the heat sink. The body is punched into a plurality of foldable sections with each section perforated at the same time. A skirt, also foldable may be provided to the bottom of each section. The body is then fixed to a base plate by gluing the skirt, or by means of a fastener. The base plate is placed flush on the top of the electronic device so that the heat generated from the electronic device is conducted to the body to dissipate in the air. The holes provided on each section of the body of the heat sink promote the lateral airflow to further improve the heat dissipation result. The cutting process as required by the prior art is omitted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008]FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a prefabricated slat of the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing that the prefabricated slat is folded;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing that the prefabricated slat has been finished with the folding process;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing that the body of the heat sink of the present invention is incorporated with a base plate;

[0012]FIG. 5 is another schematic view showing that the body of the heat sink of the present invention is incorporated with the base plate;

[0013]FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing another configuration wherein the body of the heat sink of the present invention is incorporated to the base plate;

[0014]FIG. 7 a schematic view showing that the heat sink of the present invention incorporated to the base plate is folded in a different way;

[0015]FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a plurality of bodies of the heat sink of the present invention is incorporated to the base plate;

[0016]FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the changed pattern of a plurality of holes provided laterally of the heat sink of the present invention; and

[0017]FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, a structure of a continuous heat sink of the present invention essentially comprises a prefabricated slat (1) in a proper length by punching. The slat (1) is then folded to form a body of the continuous heat sink. Wherein, a plurality of holes (2) is punched at the same time with the prefabricated slat (1). At the bottom of each section defined by two abutted folding lines is provided with a skirt (3) to be folded in later assembly of the heat sink of the present invention as illustrated in FIG. 2. The slat (1) may be folded in a continuous vortex lattice pattern in square with the skirts (3) folded at a right angle to the each section of the slat (1) as illustrated in FIG. 3 showing the body of the continuous heat sink of the present invention in vortex lattice. The skirts (3) then are incorporated to a base plate (4) as illustrated in FIG. 4. The bottom of each of the skirts (3) may be adhered to the base plate (4) by applying heat dissipation glue (5) so to render better heat conductivity between the continuous heat sink body formed by the slat (1) and the base plate (4). As a result, the integrated body of the continuous heat sink formed by the slat (1) and the base plate (4) is then fixed to an electronic device. The heat generated by the electronic device is transferred upward to the body of the continuous heat sink body and dissipated. The holes (2) bored on the vertical section of the body of the continuous heat sink promote the air laterally to improve heat dissipation results. Of course, a fan may be further provided over the body of the continuous heat sink to force accelerating the heat dissipation.

[0019] Alternatively, the body of the continuous heat sink formed by the slat (1) is fixed to the base plate (4) as illustrated in FIG. 5. Wherein, a reverse U-shaped fastener (6) is each pivoted to both sides of the base plate (4) with its lateral lever to hold against the top edge of both sides of the body. A dent (11) (11) may be provided on the top edge of the body at where contact the lateral lever of the fastener (6) for the latter to be caulked into position.

[0020] Now referring to FIG. 6, the skirt (3) at the bottom of the continuous heat sink may be omitted for the bottom edge of the body to directly contact the base plate (4) and to be glued to the base plate (4) with heat dissipation glue (5) with or without the fastener (6).

[0021] The pattern of vortex lattice is not the only option for the configuration of the slat (1) and another pattern of reciprocal bending may be provided for the slat (1) as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0022] The first preferred embodiment of the present invention is provided to the base plate (4) in a single unit of the continuous body of the heat sink. The body may be made in less number of winding or in shorter spacing to reduce its size so that a plurality of smaller units of the body are fixed to the base plate (4) as illustrated in FIG. 8. Upon punching the holes (2), a flange (21) may be punched at the same time for each hole to increase the contact area with the air, as shown in FIG. 9, thus to further improve the heat dissipation effect.

[0023] As disclosed above, a structure of a continuous heat sink adapted to heat generation electronic device is innovative and provides better heat dissipation effect by having a prefabricated slat to be punched and folded into a continuous heat sink with segregated space to allow ventilation. 

I claim:
 1. A continuous structure of a heat sink adapted to an electronic device that generates heat comprising a body formed by a slat continuously folded into a plurality of sections with each section laterally punched with a plurality of holes to define segregated space for the body; and one or more than one body is adhered to a top surface of said electronic device.
 2. A continuous structure of a heat sink adapted to an electronic device that generates heat as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a skirt is folded to a bottom of each section of said slat and flush adhered to a base plate.
 3. A continuous structure of a heat sink adapted to an electronic device that generates heat as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the body of the heat sink is adhered to said base plate by applying a coating of heat dissipation glue or fixed to said base plate by means of fasteners.
 4. A continuous structure of a heat sink adapted to an electronic device that generates heat as claimed in claim 1, wherein, a flange is punched to each of said holes of said slat. 